Invasive Plants of the United States

deeprooted sedge

Cyperales > Cyperaceae > Cyperusentrerianus Boeckl.

Synonym(s): woodrush flatsedge

Deeprooted sedge is a wetland sedge that invades disturbed areas throughout the southeastern United States. It is a robust, up to 40 in. (102 cm) tall, grass-like plant with deeply set, thick rhizomes and dark purple to black leaf bases. The leaves are basal, glossy, and flat or V-shaped. The terminal inflorescence has 5-11 elongate rays ending in densely clustered spikelets. Deeprooted sedge invades wet, disturbed areas such as highway ditches and field margins, where it can displace native vegetation. Construction, agricultural activities, and roadside mowing are spreading the seeds and dispersing this plant to new areas. Deeprooted sedge is native to South America and was accidentally introduced into the United States around 1990.